The Board of Commissioners of the Bossier Levee District met in regular session on Wednesday, January 12, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. at the Levee Board Office, 3404 Industrial Drive, Bossier City, Louisiana. The President, Tim Larkin, called the meeting to order.
ROLL CALL PRESENT: Commissioners - ALLEY, BANTLE, LARKIN, MONTGOMERY, and MOORE Staff: Mark Long, Deanna Rabb, Robert Tomasek and German Velazquez from the Department of Transportation and Development.
ABSENT: STELLY
The first order of business was the opening prayer by Commissioner Montgomery and the Pledge of Allegiance by Commissioner Larkin.
On motion by Alley, seconded by Bantle, and unanimously passed, the Board dispensed with the reading of the minutes and approved the minutes of the regular Board Meeting previously held on December 15, 2021.
REQUESTS BY VISITORS:
None.
OLD BUSINESS:
Mr. Long spoke to Mr. Kurt Nixon with Nixon Engineering Solutions, LLC prior to the meeting and he reported that they had started surveying for the Tinsley Ditch Improvements and that work should be completed soon. Mr. Long expressed that Mr. Nixon was authorized to proceed with a plan for the work.
On motion by Bantle, seconded by Montgomery and unanimously passed Mr. Larkin stated to Mr. Long to communicate to Mr. Nixon that he expected him to proceed while making a critical path schedule for the whole project and to include an anticipated begin and completion dates for this project for Board review.
NEW BUSINESS:
There were no plats received for review from the MPC for approval and or authorization in need of a no objection letter from the Bossier Levee District. No comments from the public.
Mr. Long announced that the Bossier Levee District had received one bid that was sealed and opened on January 11th from Isco Industries (from Louisville, Kentucky) in the amount of $62,816.20 regarding the HDPE CMP Culvert Liner purchase for Red Chute Levee. No comments from the public.
On motion by Bantle, seconded by Alley, and on recommendation from the Applications Committee the Board accepted the single bid from Isco Industries for $62,816.20 after being advertised and put out for public bid to be expensed for the materials only and for the work to be done by BLD employees. No comments from the public.
The Board reviewed a DRAFT agreement for the Red River Navigation Study received from Mr. Richard Brontoli. The Board reviewed the draft copy with the BLD’s attorneys, Mr. Tom Arceneaux’s notes and comments. During this discussion it was noted that a “Letter of Guaranty” should probably be attached and what would happen or who might become liable if other entities did not comply with the agreed amount to pay in the future?
On motion by Montgomery, seconded by Alley, and on recommendation from the Applications Committee the Board recommended the following plan of action:
1). Attach the letter of guarantee and make it a part in the agreement (Form of request).
2). Designated representative of the Bossier Levee District is to be the President, Tim Larkin.
3). Comments from the Commissioners be incorporated in Tom Arceneaux’s comments, so there is one document to send.
4). Tom Arceneaux and Tim Larkin are going to discuss and review the provision concerning the consequences of non-payment by other entities to determine if we should authorize or come
back to it.
Once complete, the final agreement will be sent to the full Board for review. No comments from the public.
Commissioner Montgomery made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Alley to enter into Executive Session:
Voting in favor: Alley, Bantle, Larkin, Montgomery, and Moore.
Opposed: None
Motion carried.
Commissioner Moore made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Bantle to close the Executive Session.
Voting in favor: Alley, Bantle, Larkin, Montgomery, and Moore.
Opposed: None
Motion carried.
The Board discussed the status of the Red Chute Levee Widening Project with Testament Construction during Executive Session and the Board accepted the settlement offered by Testament Construction on January 11th, 2022 and authorizes counsel to engage with Testament and to draft necessary documents for Tim Larkin to execute as President of the Bossier Levee District.
LEVEE AND DRAINAGE REPORT:
Red Chute Levee Improvement Project
- January 9, 2019, at 9:30 am. – opened bids on Red Chute Bayou Levee Improvement Project; with low bid of $5,145,791.49 from Testament Construction Services, LLC.
- March 22, 2019 – contract signed with Testament Construction.
- July 23, 2019 – Started Time Charges.
- January 6, 2020 – Work approximately 50% complete.
- August 5, 2021 – received Certificate of Substantial Completion from project engineer with an effective date of August 2, 2021.
- November 9, 2021 – work on punch list items is near completion; remaining work includes small areas to be seeded, a small amount of cleanup, and a couple of minor fence repairs.
- December 13, 2021 – no observed activity by Testament Construction since November 2, 2021.
- December 15, 2021 – Randy Denmon, PE, issued a Certificate of Acceptance for the project; the certificate was filed on December 17, 2021.
Red Chute Levee Raise Project
- Mitigation analysis for levee raise is being conducted by Nixon Engineering and Dewberry Consultants.
- October 31, 2019 – Nixon Engineering delivered mitigation report.
- December 8, 2019 – Kurt Nixon and Jacob Lesue presented the board with mitigation study results.
- March 11, 2020 – Kurt Nixon submitted a revised mitigation study report with recommendations for a levee raise and mitigation.
Red Chute Bayou Channel Slope Repairs
- Recent high-water events have caused several slope failures on the bayou inside Barksdale AFB; work is needed to remove trees and stabilize slope failures near levee.
- July 24, 2019 – Vicksburg Corps conducted a damage assessment of high-water damages on Red Chute Bayou; no determination as of November 11, 2019.
- December 9, 2019 – Donald Walker, Chief of Vicksburg Corps Emergency Management called and advised that the Vicksburg Corps would be providing funding for approximately 10 bank caving sites along the levee.
- December 10, 2019 – Captain Papia with the Vicksburg District made a site visit to assess the bank repair areas.
- March 30, 2020 – received letter dated March 24, 2020, from the colonel of the Vicksburg District Army Corps denying our request for PL 84-99 funding for bank caving repairs.
- Waiting for further direction from Corps on repair requirements.
- July 8, 2021 – Lanny Barfield with the Vicksburg USACE District, advised that the District recently requested approval
from the MVD for funding approval to repair of the sites.
Levee Inspection Compliance
- BLD has completed an inspection and report of deficiencies on the Red River Levee including items listed on the USACE 2019 Levee Inspection Report. Our plan of action is to start removing all unwanted vegetation and other encroachments in areas where permission can be obtained from property owners.
- Corps Routine annual inspection conducted on May 3, 2021, on the Red Chute Bayou Levee.
- Corps Periodic Levee Inspection conducted May 4-5, 2021, on the Red River Levee.
- Work underway south of LA 511 Bridge removing encroaching trees and brush.
- November 15, 2021 thru November 18, 2021 video inspection made on all levee drainage structures.
Red River Levee Certification
- May 8, 2018 – sent letter to Corps requesting their services in providing new levee certification.
- February 7, 2020 – we received word from Craig McRaney with the Vicksburg Corps that the levee can be raised above elevation of Lock and Dam 5 Road; Mr. McRaney also advised that the levee district should submit a request for a 408 permit to raise the levee in the areas with insufficient freeboard.
- February 10, 2020 – a conference call was held with several members of the Vicksburg Corps; the purpose of the call was to seek guidance on how to expedite the permit for the levee raise and to request that the Corps provide assistance in obtaining the permit. Very little new information was obtained from the call; the Corps did say that they would research
the Congressional Authorization for the levee to determine if any restrictions such as an additionally congressional authorization would be needed to raise the levee.
- September 9, 2020 – hired Kurt Nixon to review options for levee certification.
- January 11, 2021 – held conference call with Vicksburg Corps and discussed 408 permit requirements for raising the areas with deficient free board on the Red River Levee north of Lock and Dam 5.
- March 3, 2021 – Kurt Nixon provided progress letter on status of the 408 permit.
- April 12, 2021 – conference call held with Katy Breaux and members of the Vicksburg Army Corps of Engineers to discuss a Risk Assessment to be used for levee certification.
- April 22, 2021 – conference call with Vicksburg Corps to discuss Risk Assessment; Katy Breaux advised that the Corps has obtained funding for the Hydraulic Analysis portion of a Risk Assessment
- June 8, 2021 – spoke with Katy Breaux, Project Manager with Vicksburg Corps and she advised that work on the Hydraulic Analysis portion of the Risk Assessment should be completed by the end of July 2021.
- On August 17, 2021 Raley and Associates completed work on cross sectioning and topo survey of a 6.0-mile segment of the levee from lock and Dam 5 road north.
- January 4, 2022 – received a status update on the CORPS H&H Analysis for the Red River Levee; the H&H Analysis is complete however they are waiting on new risk assessment classification guidance before issuing a report.
Red River Corps Study
- August 28, 2019 – the Vicksburg Corps met with the Flood Technical Committee and briefed the Committee on the preliminary findings from the Study. The Study has produced a new 100-year flood profile which indicates that a portion of the levee north of Lock and Dam 5 has less than the minimum 3-foot free board; the new 100-year flood profile will also require new Base Flood Elevations (BFEs) be established. The Study is scheduled to be completed in March or April of 2020. Shona Gibson with FEMA Region 6 was also at the meeting, and she said the Corps and FEMA will be working together to produce the new BFE’s; she also said that our levee system will not be re-certified due to the deficient levee height north of Lock and Dam 5.
- December 6, 2019 – we received the new 1% WSE river profile grades for the Red River Levee from the Vicksburg Corp.
- December 13, 2019 – we received plan and profile drawings with new 1% WSE river profile.
- August 6, 2020 – Corps held a WebEx meeting and discussed the summary report; they also provided copies of the report.
Flat River Erosion Repairs
- Nixon Engineering – working on survey and preliminary design for erosion control work north of Sligo Road.
- October 11, 2021 - BLD crew completed replacement of three (3) outfall erosion control pipes located on Flat River north of Sligo Road on the Lucky property.
Flat River Outfall Pipes - South of Sligo Road
- January 7, 2022- we received a cooperative endeavor agreement from the Bossier Parish Police Jury for the two outfall pipes the board previously agreed to cost share on; the CEA is currently being reviewed and will be signed after the review is complete.
Red Chute Bayou Levee Culvert Rehab
- November 18, 2021, video inspection of the outfall CMP culvert at station 238+30 revealed a separation in the corrugated metal pipe; repair needed as soon as possible.
- December 15, 2021 – the board approved advertising for bids for HDPE culvert liners to line two CMP culverts on Red Chute Levee located on BAFB.
- HDPE Culvert Liner Bids were opened at 10:00 am Tuesday January 11, 2022; the one and only bid was received from Isco Industries, Inc. in the amount of $62,816.20.
Tinsley Ditch Culverts
-December 15, 2022 – the board authorized Kurt Nixon with Nixon Engineer to proceed with survey and design for the replacement of existing culverts under Crowing Lane and installation of a new culvert between Crowing Lane and Lateral B-4 ditch.
- January 11, 2022 – Survey work for the project design has begun.
Red River Levee Ponding Area
- January 5, 2022 – requested surveyor to survey area near Red River Levee Station 147+00 to determine how best to drain an area of ponding water adjacent to the levee.
Levee and Drainage Crews
- Removing fallen trees from Red Chute Bayou north on BAFB.
- Inspecting levees, channels, and drainage structures; cleaning outfall pipes and flap gates.
- Trimming trees brush on levees and drainage channels.
- Servicing and repairing equipment.
Surplus Equipment
- The following equipment is to be sold as surplus.
1) 2003 Case MX 110 with 5313 hours; Equipment # 205.
2) 2016 John Deere 6135E with 520 hours; Equipment # 380.
3) 2016 John Deere 6135E with 326 hours; Equipment # 381.
4) 2009 John Deere 7230 with 4975 hours; Equipment # 207.
5) 2009 John Deere 7230 with 4705 hours: Equipment # 208.
6) 2007 Ford F-450 with 103,566 miles; Equipment # 108.
7) 2000 John Deere Track Excavator with 4790 hours; Equipment # 203.
On motion by Montgomery, seconded by Alley, and unanimously approved, the Board authorized the Secretary for the District to make payments for the month of January in the amount of $72,308.97 as set forth in the materials provided for the Board. The January 12, 2022 Bossier Levee District Board Meeting was adjourned at approximately 11:20 a.m.
__________________________ _____________________________
Tim Larkin, President Deanna S. Rabb, Secretary